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July 2, 2013 by elisa sherman

Noise for the Needy 2013 ~ Ballard Style

Well, I can’t believe it had been over a year since I had last shot a music gig…my last outing being last years Noise for the Needy benefit – this years, was just the impetus I needed to go back out – as I have shot it every year since I got my first dSLR in 2008. I felt great, it was challenging, it was a bit back breaking, and it made me itch for it it all a bit, again…

That all said – the reason I go out every year for NFTN, is that it feels good, it’s for a good cause – and great people all get together to make it happen. Simply put, it’s a great thing to be part of. This years like the others supports a local charity – this year it was the Ballard Food Bank, thus all the shows were at Ballard venues – and I volunteered to shoot the weekend shows at the Tractor Tavern. It was going to be dark, I knew, but all considered it was the venue in which I knew I could make it work…

Before I show off this years set, reminisce – 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012.

Now, the bands that were covered included Pretty Broken Things, Case Studies, Horse Feathers on Saturday the 22nd, and C-Leb & the Kettle Black, Cracker Factory, Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown Sunday the 22rd. By far the most fun to shoot was Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown closing the show on Sunday…but they were all great fun, offering unique looks, and great music.

My faves from the weekend…

Full Archive slideshow –

Noise for the Needy 2013 – Images by Elisa Sherman

To check out all the images captured by the NFTN photographers, check out their FLICKR.

…next, Pride…

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April 25, 2013 by elisa sherman

Spring, Tulips and more…

Spring has sprung, and my girlfriends and I headed up to see the tulips and visit San Juan Island…fun was had. As well, many clicks were clicked. As always, iPhone got a starring role as the snapshot must, but the big 5d2 got a few in as well, fish attached…

For memories of tulips, specifically, of years past – 2011, 2008…

iPhone faves…

And via the fish…a few faves…

Full fish slideshow –

Girls Weekend Tulips and Harbors 4-20 thru 4-21-2013 – Images by Elisa Sherman

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January 28, 2013 by elisa sherman

Like a Blister in the Sun…Oahu 2013

Ok, so not a blister, per se, but a bit of bright sun to burst through the winter blues, with images full of solar flare and whatnot – that was what the ol’ sensor captured on the big 5d2…

But, it wasn’t just the big camera, in fact it was mostly the little iPhone that got the biggest workout – because…yep, it’s the camera with me…

Actually, I made a point not to take the bigger camera with me for most of my vacation – it was a birthday break, turning 40 in the tropics – a time to relax, take in the rays, drinks some tropical beverages, just to relax. Relalxing means, not obsessing over getting all the spectaular shots… Perhaps this sounds counter intuitive – but I can be, a bit obsessive with my clickage. I want to capture all the pretty.

I actually thought about this for a bit – the images that would or would not be captured whilst I was in the tropics. I wanted both, not to be obsessed, but to be able to get some image trophies to bring home…

So, I scheduled a tour – specifically a photography tour. Alex Wilson runs Oahu Photography tours – and has earned the top spot on the activity list on Trip Advisor – I concur(ponders – Alex, do you need to franchise out – the Big Island perhaps?! – only partially kidding, lol).

Given the schedule I had of family and friends meeting me on the island – I felt like I could only spare a half day – so I chose the Sunrise tour – and it was spectacular – I got my photo on, fed the beast as it were, and my trusty iPhone was able to satisfy me for most of the rest of the 9 days. I only cracked out the big cam again on the 2 trips up to North Shore (the wild seas warranted it), and a few shots out at Haunama… I also chose to shoot primarily with my 15mm fisheye – which I think worked out well. I have really fallen in love with it. Playing with the bend, the flare, the wide angle – a great creative lens and creative image partner.

First – with my iphone, instagram was my friend…posting friend & family pics easily to facebook, and pretty seascapey phone pix to my tumblr. Several of the fun phone pix – here –

And, of course, solar flare most often in sharp focus…big cam shots – about eighty percent from the photo tour – thanks again, Alex!

~full gallery archive slideshow~
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Aloha & Mahalo, Hawaii – until next time…

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January 1, 2013 by elisa sherman

2012 Year in Review: Ponderings & Pics

2012, it’s been an interesting year. In previous years, this blog, the year in review, has focused on concert images, but like everything else, we have evolved, changed, and my focus has altered…

For one, my photography has found a role within my life that is decidely less serious. I am a fan of images, first… An image maker, creating what has inspired or crossed my path.

Some music images have continued to make their way to my sensor, through the lenses…along with some gorgeous seascapes, glorious crystalline ice bergs, and a reappreciation for the fact,that it isn’t he camera you have, rather the camera you have with you, be it the 5d2 or my iPhone.

After all, the phone camera, you have, likely, with you all the time, so when an image appears by happenstance, in front of you, snap…the ultimate snapshot device as it were…

I have several this year, around town, on vacation, it is, image making at will, unplanned, and uncontrived – perhaps of quality, perhaps, just pure fun. Digital has made image capturing, the recording of pixels, a matter of course for pretty much everyone. And as a fan of images, I do not pretend to be above that fray…

More fun snaps can be seen on my tumblr…

Of course, the big heavy mark II got many a click, and as of a week or so ago, finally a sensor cleaning…

Some of my favorite images, landscape, life and beyond, not excluding music…

And with that, 2012 images are but a pixelated record in time…Adieu.

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September 3, 2012 by elisa sherman

Long Lost: Beach House frames from the 2010 Vampire Weekend show that didn’t happen…

It was a what, 2 hour show? A show that never had a headliner, as the lead for Vampire Weekend lost his voice. But alas, we were treated to a couple quite good opening acts – first the Dum Dum Girls, then Beach House – they almost could have headlined in my opinion… For whatever reason, I never got to publishing this set…but heck, it was time to dig through the archives ~ enjoy!

Beach House opening for the cancelled Vampire Weekend show 8-29-2010 at Marymoor Amphitheatre (Elisa Sherman)

~ Archive Slideshow ~ [photoshelter-gallery g_id=”G0000qLxLns3Uz_0″ g_name=”Beach-House-at-Marymoor-8-29-2010″ f_show_slidenum=”t” img_title=”f” pho_credit=”iptc” f_link=”t” f_enable_embed_btn=”t” f_send_to_friend_btn=”t” f_fullscreen=”t” f_topbar=”t” f_bbar=”t” f_show_watermark=”t” f_htmllinks=”t” f_mtrx=”t” fsvis=”f” width=”800″ height=”600″ bgcolor=”#AAAAAA” bgtrans=”t” btype=”old” bcolor=”#CCCCCC” crop=”f” twoup=”t” trans=”xfade” tbs=”5000″ f_ap=”t” linkdest=”c” f_constrain=”f” f_bbarbig=”” f_show_caption=”f” f_smooth=”f” f_up=”f” target=”_self” ]

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August 27, 2012 by elisa sherman

Seattle Pride 2012: Here comes the Bride (Groom)

Seattle Pride is something that has drawn my lens since I started seriously shooting with a dSLR – back in 2008. It helps that I just have to walk down the hill a couple blocks to start taking in the preparations…

Each year, the imagery I see, is so full of joy, hope, and love. Of course, various themes jump out, with different ones seeming to magically pop through and tell different stories each year…

Whether it’s purposeful from the parades standpoint, or just me seeing things differently or more likely a combination of the two…there really is something new every year, even if the same faces often make annual appearances…

This year, and in each year previous, I see the drum beat for marriage equality come through most strongly. This is the pulse, moreso now, staring down an election year – and Washington State is right in the mix with R74 United for Marriage Act. I guess, love is political? While I am not sure it should have to be, my hope is that the energy, the colors and joy, is something we can celebrate everyday.

For Seattle Pride images from years past, 2008, 2009, 2010 & 2011.

This year…enjoy, love…

~ Full Archive Slideshow ~
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August 14, 2012 by elisa sherman

Alaskan Flare…

So…I just got back from an Alaskan cruise – it was…different.

It’s not your typical tropical destination – but the colors were bright – and when out – so was the sun. In fact – the sun, as even just part way north as the Inside Passage isn’t really that far up, doesn’t set till later up there…so sunsets – pretty spectacular. Granted no palm nor coconut trees a la Hawaii / Cali…but, I think the massive mountains and crazy sky make up for it.

The most impressive part of the cruise and by far the source for most of my images – was the 2-3hr mini cruise we took up the Tracy Arm Fjord after climbing down onto a smaller vessel. We got extremely lucky – only a few days a year are as beautiful as the day we got here…the water was glorious, the glaciers spectacular, the icebergs brilliant, and the mountains, massive.

That last bit, from an image making perspective was really breathtaking – the sheer size. Well the size and the lens flare – but we’ll get to the latter in a minute. First the size – everything in Alaska is, well, bigger. No pun. I could tell, simply because I knew I had a pretty darned wide lens on my 5d2 – I rented a 16-35 especially for the trip – a bit of a trial run – as that is a lens I covet. And honestly – I couldn’t barely fit some of the scenes inside of that wide frame – stunningly massively gigantic.

Now to the latter – who knew lens flare due to massive light would be such an issue – in Alaska?! Well, so many views I captured – I purposely was shooting into the sun – and, I guess, I just embraced it. I think the light was gorgeous – and this image sits as my wallpaper at work…

I probably shouldn’t forget the critters – we saw a few – though I didn’t capture many in frame – here you see some black or brown(??) bears on the shore – they really are large – but alas even cropped in – they look tiny as so many things did, amid the massiveness of the surroundings…

How massive you might ask, is everything really – not to belabor this theme – but BIG. In the next image – smaller tour boats, are but specs amongst the glacier and icebergs…you can’t even make them out – I can see them if I crop to 100% – but they aren’t much to look at – so, eh, trust me:)

Oh, and I probably shouldn’t forget the calving glacier – I guess it’s special that it did it whilst we were there – but then, we did have a bit of magic with us, so…

At the end of the day – bigger is better and more beautiful – here’s a few more, and the full gallery slideshow following…

Alaska, July 2012 – Images by Elisa Sherman

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June 16, 2012 by elisa sherman

Noise for the Needy 2012

This year as I was going to be out of town the second week of June – I thought I was going to miss the annual charity music festival – Noise for the Needy…after having shot it every year since 2008…but they had a couple of early show dates – so I was able to squeeze this one in – at Neumos, headlined by The Thermals, with Little Cuts, and Tacocat. To reminisce on years past check out – 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011 blogs.

This year – as always, the images show what a great cause, what fun, and what is so cool about this event – the people & the music. Enjoy…

Full Gallery –

Noise for the Needy 2012 @ Neumos 6-2-2012 – Images by Elisa Sherman

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May 28, 2012 by elisa sherman

The folks at Northwest Folklife festival 2012 5-26-2012

So I went down to folklife festival this year – not sure I have been before? Anywho, many I know are over at Sasquatch this weekend…others out of town on vacation…

But it was a gorgeous weekend in Seattle – so if you were here – it was a great time to get out and enjoy something local – ergo, I did. I was supposed to find a friend that was playing there – but for the life of me, I couldn’t figure out where…the place was teaming – bunches of Seattlites were there – running around the fountain, consuming the fair food, lazing in the sun, taking in the music on the stages, and street performers of all types (music and otherwise) along all the walkways…It was fabulous – a perfect seattle day (and weekend) to be out at Seattle Center taking in the bliss.

And so I did…camera in hand. I decided to focus on the life over the stages – if that makes sense. From the kids running around, folks lazing under the sun, street performers doing whatever they do, playing for tips, etc…it was perfection, this day.

Take a look –

Full set gallery archive from the day

Northwest Folklife Festival 2012 5-26-2012 – Images by Elisa Sherman

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May 1, 2012 by elisa sherman

honeyhoney at the Neptune Theatre, 4-29-2012

So, it’s been a while since I shot some music – since January actually…ironically, it was last at the Neptune – where I shot Concrete Blonde… Anywho – it’s been 2 months since I’ve even last picked up a camera…so when I got an email asking to sub in and cover the opener at the Neptune last Sunday – I figured, why not – my shutter finger could use a work out. So I did – honeyhoney opened the show on Sunday – take a look.

Assignement gallery –
http://www.soundspike.com/photos/1754/honeyhoney-in-seattle/

Some of my faves –

honeyhoney perform April 29th, 2012 on the "Billy Jack" tour at the Neptune Theatre in Seattle, Washington (Elisa Sherman)

honeyhoney at the Neptune Theatre 4-29-2012 – Images by Elisa Sherman